Cheney Bashes Top Democrats

Vice President Cheney warns in an interview with Politico that a premature withdrawal from Iraq would invite “further attacks” against the U.S., noting he has been surprised by the weakness of the Democratic Congress.

Cheney especially targeted Democratic Reps. John Dingell (Mich.) and John P. Murtha (Pa.), both old friends of his when he served in the House.

In the interview, he taunted the notion of the pair, who spent years accruing power, showing so much deference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the vital spending and energy showdowns.

Murtha “and the other senior leaders … march to the tune of Nancy Pelosi to an extent I had not seen, frankly, with any previous speaker,” Cheney said. “I’m trying to think how to say all of this in a gentlemanly fashion, but [in] the Congress I served in, that wouldn’t have happened.”

When asked by Politico if these men had lost their spines, he responded, “They are not carrying the big sticks I would have expected.”

According to the report, Cheney was dismissive of virtually everything Democrats are trying to do in Congress — “that probably wouldn’t surprise anybody” — on the war, spending and anti-terrorism policies.

“They’ve produced absolutely nothing that I can see that’s of benefit or consistent with the promises that they made when they went out and ran for election,” Cheney said.

In a statement responding to the vice president’s remarks, Pelosi called on the White House to expend its time and energy in finding compromise.

Vice President Cheney warns in an interview with Politico that a premature withdrawal from Iraq would invite “further attacks” against the U.S., noting he has been surprised by the weakness of the Democratic Congress. Cheney especially targeted Democratic Reps. John Dingell...